In 2012, 224 sightings were involved from an estimated 93 black bears.

Trumbull County received the most sightings with 22. The well forested eastern half of Ohio reported the most sightings, though animals were seen as far west as Fulton and Montgomery County.

One young black bear was seen roaming through downtown Youngstown traveling in a park near a hospital. There were also five unverified reports of sows with cubs.

• Trappers looking for a working vacation are invited to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan.

The 55th annual National Trappers Association Convention and Outdoor Show will be July 24 through 27 at Escanaba, Michigan. This figures to be one of the largest trapping events in all of North America.

“Ten buildings will be filled with inside vendors and there will probably be over 200 outside selling their wares,” said NTA Director Bob Steinmetz. “Trappers can get all of their needed tools and supplies with no shipping charges and can compare prices between hundreds of dealers.”

The event also provides trappers with the opportunity to learn new trapping methods and speak with many experienced trappers. For more information call 248-568-5804 or visit uptrappers.com.

• Each year some ducks successfully rear young and some fall prey to foxes, skunks, and raccoons that eat their eggs and ducklings. Duck hunters can actually see the success or loss of four nesting ducks this spring via video camera.

Delta Waterfowl has installed small video cameras mounted to a stake in the ground next to four different duck nests. The first star this spring is Blue-winged teal 007, who is incubating 12 eggs if a predator doesn’t find them first.

The Delta Duck cam stream will remain live through the nesting season and can be seen a at deltaduckcam.com.

• Fishermen and boaters who like to visit the Bass Islands will find some welcome changes this summer.

The ODNR will make improvements to five state parks there that will improve the experience of visitors, among them funds to renovate the Lonz Winery property on Middle Bass Island. Among other improvements are additional full hookup campsites at Kelleys Island State Park.

There will be a mooring ball for more boating access at North Bass, upgraded campsites with electrical hookups at South Bass Island, new flush toilets at Catawba Island, and shower house upgrades and additional full hookups at East Harbor State Park campsites.

• An area long known for outdoor adventures, Ohio’s Hocking Hills region will offer some unique experiences thanks to Hocking Hills Canopy Tours.

The organization has just launched Off-Road Segway Adventures, X-Tours, and limited availability Sunrise and Twilight Zipline Tours. The new tours showcase the region’s spectacular topography and offer visitors more ways to experience natural beauty.

For more information, Google Hocking Hills Canopy Tours.

• Thanks to funding from thje Friends of the Crawford Park District, The History & Geology of the Leesville Stone Quarries has been published.

Written by Dana Martin Batory of Crestline, the book is the result of fieldwork and research begun in Spring 2011. Besides explaining the geology of the once famous sandstone deposit, the work details the histories of the quarries, tracing their development from their beginnings in the 1830 to their demise in 1912.

The book can be purchased at the Lowe-Volk Nature Center for $20.

Dick Martin is a retired Shelby biology teacher and author who has written an outdoor column for more than 20 years. He can be reached at richmart@neo.rr.com